. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . e cover of asand-dune, he can see the hardy little creatures pitchingabout asleep on the waters, despite the approaching hurri-cane. Among them are a few Pintails, Mallards, Scaups,Scoters, Cormorants and Gulls, scarcely able to cope withwind and wave. But in this great multitude of Wigeon,there are many awake and lively. The yellow-headeddrakes are speeding across the water in hot pursuit, someare diving to escape, others washing, splashing and sittingup on end flapping their wings. Their merry whistle may be heard clearly above theroar of th
. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . e cover of asand-dune, he can see the hardy little creatures pitchingabout asleep on the waters, despite the approaching hurri-cane. Among them are a few Pintails, Mallards, Scaups,Scoters, Cormorants and Gulls, scarcely able to cope withwind and wave. But in this great multitude of Wigeon,there are many awake and lively. The yellow-headeddrakes are speeding across the water in hot pursuit, someare diving to escape, others washing, splashing and sittingup on end flapping their wings. Their merry whistle may be heard clearly above theroar of the breakers. Now something has disturbed them !They stretch their necks and look intently upwards in greatexcitement. What keen sight they possess ! They have been watch-ing for some time what still appears a mere speck in theair. A Peregrine Falcon ! They recognise their foe longbefore the onlooker can even discern that it is an approach-ing bird. Ere a minute has elapsed the Falcon is directlyoverhead. A magnificent sight! One great swoop to the. WIGEON 113 water and he is up again, but without his prey, and theDucks and other birds closely pack, keeping to the water,their only sanctuary. A very Babel of sound now fills theair, as the flocks, by their angry threats, endeavour to driveoff the enemy. There is much confusion in the ranks ;some, more frightened than the rest, immediately dive, butnone attempt to Hy as long as the Peregrine lurks , however, the attention of the Falcon is attracted by aflock of Plover, crossing the estuary. In a moment he isamong them, and, singling out his victim, enters on hisdeadly chase. Out over the sea the two birds fly untilfinally they disappear from view. Wigeon do not invariably remain on the water whendisturbed by the first sight of the Falcon in the have seen thousands of them rise and join with iminensecompanies of waders, the great dark cloud of birds utterlydeserting the estuaries and sand-flats for miles around
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectwaterbi, bookyear1906
